System and method for network visualization and plan review

ABSTRACT

A computer-implemented system, a method thereof, and a computer-readable medium comprising a supply chain visualizer providing a plurality of graphical elements in a multi-dimensional supply chain network view and a plan display providing a plurality of graphical elements in a multi-dimensional tabular view, a multi-directional capability for traversing between the supply chain visualizer and the plan display operable to receive input from a planner during a planning session specifying a plan problem, reflecting changes to data associated with the plan display back to data associated with the supply chain visualizer, reflecting changes to data associated with the supply chain visualizer back to data associated with the plan display, traversing the multi-dimensional supply chain network via a real-time interaction between the multi-dimensional tabular view of the plan display and the visual representation of the graphical view of the supply chain visualizer, and providing the planner the ability to generate a plan.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/165,640, filed on 7 Jun. 2002 and entitled“MANAGING PLAN PROBLEMS ACROSS PLANNING CYCLES”, and this applicationclaims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 60/689,915 filed 13 Jun. 2005 entitled “NETWORKVISUALIZATION AND PLAN REVIEW.” U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/165,640 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/689,915 arecommonly assigned to the assignee of the present application. Thedisclosure of related patent application Ser. No. 10/165,640 and U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/689,915 are hereby incorporated byreference into the present disclosure as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to inventory management and inparticular, to a system and method for providing supply chain networkvisualization and plan review.

2. Description of Related Art

Supply chain planning applications develop production and distributionplans to attempt to match supply with demand to meet businessobjectives. Today, supply chains are often extremely complex spaghettinetworks, including large networks of supplier facilities, manufacturingfacilities, distribution facilities, and sales channels spread aroundthe world. As a result, a supply chain plan may include a large numberof problems, such as late orders, short orders, over utilized orunderutilized resources, safety stock violations, or other problems. Itis typically the responsibility of a planner to minimize such problemsby attempting to investigate any potential plan problems and generate anew plan to avoid these potential problems.

Supply chain planning and other advanced planning system applicationstypically provide a single dimensional “problem window” that presentsproblems in a given plan, which are typically categorized according totype and prioritized according to severity. In an effort to rectifythese isolated problems, planners may directly compare current planswith previous plans to determine the status of plan problems. However,there are several shortcomings associated with such isolated singledimensional applications. As an example, such comparisons may require agreat deal of time and effort on the part of a planner, may be plaguedby human error, and may provide limited insight into the actualmulti-dimensional plan problems. As another example, such applicationsmay not account for the fact that problems may have life cycles suchthat they repeatedly arise in successive planning cycles or that actionstaken to correct such problems may have multi-dimensional effects insuccessive planning cycles. As yet another example, reconciling theresults of a current plan with those of previous plans using suchapplications may require direct comparisons between stored plans, whichare limited in their ability to give insight into the actual planproblems, particularly over long periods of time. As still anotherexample, such applications may provide no way to efficiently identifyand prioritize problems across a multi-dimensional supply chain network.

Although great strides have been made in the area of supply chainplanning, many shortcomings remain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is a need in the art for providing a system and method forproviding supply chain network visualization and plan review. There isalso a need to provide a planner with the ability to traverse thevisualization and plan review. Therefore, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide a system for providing a visual representation of amulti-dimensional supply chain network view and a multi-dimensionaltabular view and the ability to traverse between these multi-dimensionalviews in a multi-directional capability.

This object is achieved by providing a computer-implemented system forproviding supply chain network visualization and plan review. Accordingto the preferred embodiment of the present invention, thecomputer-implemented system comprises a supply chain visualizer capableof providing a visual representation of one or more graphical elementsin a multi-dimensional supply chain network. The computer-implementedsystem further comprises a plan display capable of providing a visualrepresentation of one or more graphical elements in a multi-dimensionaltabular view. The computer-implemented system still further comprises amulti-directional capability for providing context sensitive traversingbetween the supply chain visualizer and the plan display.

It is another object of the present invention to provide acomputer-implemented method for providing a visual representation of amulti-dimensional supply chain network and a multi-dimensional tabularview and the ability to traverse between these multi-dimensional viewsin a multi-directional capability.

This object is achieved by providing a computer-implemented method forproviding supply chain network visualization and plan review, the methodperformed using one or more computer systems each comprising one or moreprocessing units and one or more memory units at one or more locations.According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, themethod comprises the steps of providing a visual representation of oneor more graphical elements in a multi-dimensional supply chain network.The method further comprises the steps of providing a visualrepresentation of one or more graphical elements in a multi-dimensionaltabular view. The method still further comprises the steps of providinga multi-directional capability for a context sensitive traversingbetween the supply chain visualizer and the plan display.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide acomputer-readable medium for providing a visual representation of amulti-dimensional supply chain network and a multi-dimensional tabularview and the ability to traverse between these multi-dimensional viewsin a multi-directional capability.

This object is achieved by providing a computer-readable medium havingencoded thereon software for providing supply chain networkvisualization and plan review. According to the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, the computer-readable medium comprisesinstructions for providing a visual representation of one or moregraphical elements in a multi-dimensional supply chain network. Thecomputer-readable medium further comprises the steps of providing avisual representation of one or more graphical elements in amulti-dimensional tabular view. The computer-readable medium furthercomprises the steps of providing a multi-directional capability for acontext sensitive traversing between the supply chain visualizer and theplan display.

The present invention provides the following advantages: (1) a supplychain visualizer capable of providing a visual representation of one ormore graphical elements in a multi-dimensional supply chain network; (2)a plan display capable of providing a visual representation of one ormore graphical elements in a multi-dimensional tabular view; and (3) amulti-directional capability for providing context sensitive traversingbetween the supply chain visualizer and the plan display.

These and other advantages and features of the present invention willbecome readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination ofthe subsequent detailed description and accompanying drawings.Accordingly additional advantages and features of the present inventionand the scope thereof are pointed out with particularity in the claimsand form a part hereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are setforth in the appended claims. However, the invention itself, as well asa preferred mode of use, and further objectives and advantages thereof,will best be understood by reference to the following detaileddescription when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a supply chain network according to the preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a planning system according to the preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a visual representation of a supply chain visualizerillustrating in greater detail the supply chain network of FIG. 1according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a visual representation of a plan display accordingto the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 depicts a high level flowchart illustrating the preferred methodand operation of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference will now be made to the following detailed description of thepreferred and alternate embodiments of the present invention. Thoseskilled in the art will recognize that the present invention providesmany inventive concepts and novel features, that are merelyillustrative, and are not to be construed as restrictive. Accordingly,the specific embodiments discussed herein are given by way of exampleand do not limit the scope of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1 in the drawings, the preferred embodiment of asupply chain network 100 according to the present invention isillustrated. Supply chain network 100 comprises one or more suppliers110, one or more manufactures 120, one or more distributors 130, one ormore retailers 140, and one or more customers 150. Although supply chainnetwork 100 is shown and described as having a plurality of suppliers110 a-110 n, a plurality of manufactures 120 a-120 n, a plurality ofdistributors 130 a-130 n, a plurality of retailers 140 a-140 n, and aplurality of customers 150 a-150 n, the present invention contemplatesany suitable number of suppliers 110, manufactures 120, distributors130, retailers 140, and customers 150, according to particular needs.Additionally, although supply chain network 100 is shown and describedas having supply and demand connections 111 a, 111 d, 121 b, 131 b, 141c, the present invention contemplates any suitable number of supply anddemand connections 111 a-111 n, 121 a-121 n, 131 a-131 n, and 141 a-141n, according to particular needs.

It is understood that supply and demand connections associated withsupply chain network 100 represent material flowing downstream asillustrated by down-stream arrow 104 and represent demand propagatedupstream as illustrated by up-stream arrow 102. Suppliers 110 areup-stream from manufacturers 120, distributors 130, retailers 140, andcustomers 150. Manufacturers 120 are down-stream from suppliers 110, butare up-stream from distributors 130, retailers 140, and customers 150.Distributors 130 are down-stream from suppliers 110 and manufacturers120, but are up-stream from retailers 140, and customers 150. Retailers140 are down-stream from suppliers 110, manufacturers 120 anddistributors 130, but are up-stream from customers 150. Customers 150are down-stream from suppliers 110, manufacturers 120, distributors 130,retailers 140, and customers 150. In addition or as an alternative, somenetworks may include cycles as is the case of representing returns orrepairs in aftermarket service situations.

Suppliers 110 comprise one or more suppliers 110 a-110 n that supplymaterials to manufacturers 120 via supply and demand connections 111a-111 n. Materials may be for example, raw materials, component parts,or like materials, that manufacturers 120 may use to manufactureproducts. Manufacturers 120 comprise one or more manufacturers 120 a-120n that receive supply materials from suppliers 110 via supply and demandconnections 111 a-111 n. Products may be, for example, computers,phones, televisions, or like products that manufacturers 120 maymanufacture or customers 150 may purchase. Distributors 130 comprise oneor more distributors 130 a-130 n that receive products frommanufacturers 120 via supply and demand connections 121 a-121 n andprovide to retailers 140 via supply and demand connections 131 a-131 n.Retailers 140 comprise one or more retailers 140 a-140 n that provideproducts to customers 150 via supply and demand connections 141 a-141 n.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, retailers 140comprise one or more physical store locations where customers 150 maypurchase products from retailers 140. In an alternate embodimentretailers 140 comprise one or more websites or virtual store locationsthat customers 150 may access and purchase products from retailers 140.In a further alternate embodiment retailers 140 comprise one or morecall centers or quasi-virtual store locations that customers 150 maycall and purchase products from retailer 140. Although retailers 140 aredescribed as comprising a physical store location, a virtual storelocation, or a quasi-virtual store location, the present inventioncontemplates retailers 140 combining any or all of these various typesof store locations, according to particular needs.

Customers 150 comprise one or more customers 150 a-150 n that purchaseproducts through supply chain network 100, and in particular retailers140. For example, customers 150 may comprise one or more individualspurchasing a product for personal or business use. As another example,customers 150 may comprise one or more computer systems capable ofautomatically searching for and purchasing products from one or moreretailers 140 via supply and demand connections 141 a-141 n. The one ormore retailers 140 may comprise one or more computer systems capable ofinterfacing with the one or more computer systems of customers 150 forthe negotiation and delivery arrangements of products, according toparticular needs.

To further explain the operation of supply chain network 100, an exampleis now given. In the following example, supplier 110 a may supplymaterials to multiple manufactures 120 a and 120 b via supply and demandchannel 111 a and 111 b, manufacturer 120 b may also receive materialsfrom an alternative supplier 110 d via supply and demand channel 111 d,manufacturer 120 b may supply products to multiple distributors 130 a,130 b and 130 c via supply and demand channel 121 a, 121 b and 121 c,distributor 130 b may supply products to multiple retailers 140 a, 140b, 140 c, and 140 d via supply and demand channel 141 a, 141 b, 141 c,and 141 d, and retailer 140 c may supply products to multiple customers150 a, 150 b, 150 c, 150 d, and 150 e via supply and demand connections141 c, 141 b, 141 c, and 141 d.

Although suppliers 110, manufacturers 120, distributors 130, retailers140, and customers 150 are shown and described as being separate fromeach other, the present invention contemplates two or more of thesesupply chain entities being combined, according to particular needs. Forexample, suppliers 110 and manufacturers 120 may be supply chainentities within a single enterprise or distributors 130 and retailers140 may be supply chain entities within a single enterprise. Althoughsupply chain network 100 is shown and described as having each of thesesupply chain entities, the present invention also contemplates supplychain network 100 excluding one or more of these supply chain entities,according to particular needs. For example, supply chain network 100 mayexclude distributors 130 and manufactures may supply products directlyto retailers 140 or retailers 140 may be excluded and distributors 130may supply products directly to customers 150.

Customers 150 communicate customer demand to retailers 140 via supplyand demand connections 141 a-141 n to purchase products from supplychain network 100 and in particular to purchase products from retailers140. Retailers 140 supplies products to customers 150 via supply anddemand connections 141 a-141 n in response to customer demand. Supplyand demand connections 141 a-141 n may comprise one or more processes,sites, or modes of transportation or electronic communication forsupplying products to customers 150. In the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, supply and demand connections 141 a-141 n maycomprise one or more physical store locations where customers 150 maypurchase products from retailers 140 and one or more processes forimplementing and completing the purchases. In an alternate embodiment ofthe present invention, supply and demand connections 141 a-141 n maycomprise one or more warehouses or stocking locations and one or moreprocesses and modes of transportation for implementing and completingthe purchases from the warehouse or stocking location to customers 150who purchased via one or more websites or virtual store locations or oneor more call centers or quasi-virtual store locations.

Accordingly, when customers 150 purchase a product from retailers 140 ata physical store location, retailers 140 typically provides the productto customers 150 substantially immediately after the completion of thetransaction. Alternatively, when customers 150 orders a product fromretailers 140 at a physical store location or when customers 150 ordersor purchases a product at a virtual store location or at a quasi-virtualstore location, retailers 150 typically ships the product to customers150 substantially immediately after the completion of the transaction.As a result, retailers 140 must have inventory in stock to provide orship the product to customers 150 at the time the product is ordered orpurchased to meet the substantially immediate customer demand. As willbe explained in more detail below, the unpredictable nature of customerdemand at retailers 140 may create potential backorders or delays withinsupply and demand connections 141 a-141 n.

Retailers 140 communicate retailer demand to distributors 130 via supplyand demand connections 131 a-131 n to order or purchase products fromsupply chain network 100 and, in particular, to order or purchaseproducts from distributors 130. Distributors 130 supplies products toretailers 140 via supply and demand connections 131 a-131 n in responseto retailer demand. Supply and demand connections 131 a-131 n maycomprise one or more processes, sites, or modes of transportation orelectronic communication for supplying products to retailers 140. In thepreferred embodiment of the present invention, supply and demandconnections 131 a-131 n may comprise one or more physical storelocations where retailers 140 may order or purchase products fromdistributor 130 and one or more processes for implementing andcompleting the orders or purchases. In an alternate embodiment of thepresent invention, supply and demand connections 131 a-131 n maycomprise one or more warehouses or stocking locations and one or moreprocesses and modes of transportation for implementing and completingthe orders or purchases from the warehouse or stocking location toretailers 140 who purchased via one or more websites or virtual storelocations or one or more call centers or quasi-virtual store locations.

Since retailers 140 must order or purchase products from distributors130 in advance to meet down-stream customer demand, a planner withinretailers 140 may forecast customer demand to determine how manyproducts to order or purchase from up-stream distributors 130 and whento order or purchase the products. A delay may be associated with supplyand demand connections 131 a-131 n. Because of this potential delay,retailers 140 must order or purchase products from distributors 130 inadvance to have inventory in stock by a certain date to meet actualcustomer demand. However, as a result of the unpredictable nature ofcustomer demand, forecasting customer demand is typically a difficulttask and inaccuracies in the planner's forecast of customer demand maycause retailers 140 to incur substantial costs. The planner withinretailers 140 may maintain a safety stock in inventory to reduce thelikelihood that retailers 140 will be unable to meet customer demand ifactual customer demand exceeds forecasted customer demand.

Distributors 130 communicate distributor demand to manufactures 120 viasupply and demand connections 121 a-121 n to order or purchase productsfrom supply chain network 100 and in particular to order or purchaseproducts from manufacturers 120. Manufacturers 120 supplies products todistributors 130 via supply and demand connections 121 a-121 n inresponse to distributor demand. Supply and demand connections 121 a-121n may comprise one or more processes, sites, or modes of transportationor electronic communication for supplying products to distributors 130.In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, supply and demandconnections 121 a-121 n may comprise one or more physical storelocations where distributors 130 may order or purchase products frommanufacturers 120 and one or more processes for implementing andcompleting the orders or purchases. In an alternate embodiment of thepresent invention, supply and demand connections 121 a-121 n maycomprise one or more warehouses, stocking locations, or electronicstorage and one or more processes and modes of transportation forimplementing and completing the orders or purchases from the warehouseor stocking location to distributors 130 who purchased via one or morewebsites or virtual store locations or one or more call centers orquasi-virtual store locations.

Since distributors 130 must order or purchase products frommanufacturers 120 in advance to meet down-stream retailer demand, aplanner within distributors 130 may forecast retailer demand todetermine how many products to order or purchase from up-streammanufacturers 120 and when to order or purchase the products. A delaymay be associated with supply and demand connections 121 a-121 n.Because of this delay, distributors 130 must order or purchase productsfrom manufacturers 120 in advance to have inventory in stock by acertain date to meet actual retailer demand. However, as a result of theunpredictable nature of retailer demand, forecasting retailer demand istypically a difficult task and inaccuracies in the planner's forecast ofretailer demand may cause distributors 130 to incur substantial costs.Because retailer demand is derived from customer demand, retailer demandmay be even more unpredictable than customer demand and, as a result,forecasting retailer demand by a planner may even be more difficult thana planner forecasting customer demand. Like the planner within retailers140, the planner within distributors 130 may maintain a safety stock ininventory to reduce the likelihood that distributors 130 will be unableto meet retailer demand if actual retailer demand exceeds forecastedretailer demand.

Manufacturers 120 communicate manufacturing demand to suppliers 110 viasupply and demand connections 111 a-111 n to order or purchase materialsfrom supply chain network 100 and in particular to order or purchasematerials from suppliers 110. Suppliers 110 supplies materials tomanufacturers 120 via supply and demand connections 111 a-111 n inresponse to manufacturing demand. Supply and demand connections 111a-111 n may comprise one or more processes, sites, or modes oftransportation or electronic communication for supplying materials tomanufacturers 120. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention,supply and demand connections 111 a-111 n may comprise one or morephysical store locations where manufacturers 120 may order or purchasematerials from suppliers 110 and one or more processes for implementingand completing the orders or purchases. In an alternate embodiment ofthe present invention, supply and demand connections 111 a-111 n maycomprise one or more warehouses, stocking locations, or electronicstorage devices and one or more processes and modes of transportationfor implementing and completing the orders or purchases from thewarehouse, stocking, or storage location to manufacturers 120 whopurchased via one or more websites or virtual store locations or one ormore call centers or quasi-virtual store locations.

Since manufacturers 120 must order or purchase materials from suppliers110 in advance to meet down-stream manufacturing demand, a plannerwithin manufacturers 120 may forecast manufacturing demand to determinehow much material to order or purchase from up-stream suppliers 110 andwhen to order or purchase the materials. A delay may be associated withsupply and demand connections 111 a-111 n. Because of this delay,manufacturers 120 must order or purchase materials from suppliers 110 inadvance to have inventory in stock by a certain date to meet actualmanufacturing demand. However, as a result of the unpredictable natureof manufacturing demand, forecasting manufacturing demand is typically adifficult task and inaccuracies in the planners forecast ofmanufacturing demand may cause manufacturers 120 to incur substantialcosts. Because manufacturing demand is derived from retailer demand,which is in turn derived from customer demand, manufacturing demand maybe even more unpredictable than retailer or customer demand and, as aresult, forecasting manufacturing demand by a planner may even be moredifficult than a planner forecasting retailer or customer demand. Likethe planner within distributors 130 and the planner within retailers140, the planner within manufacturers 120 may maintain a safety stock ininventory to reduce the likelihood that manufacturers 120 will be unableto meet manufacturing demand if actual manufacturing demand exceedsforecasted manufacturing demand.

Since suppliers 110 must begin production in advance to meet down-streammanufacturing demand, a planner within suppliers 110 may forecastmanufacturing demand to determine how much material to produce and whento produce the materials. A delay may be associated with supply anddemand connections 111 a-111 n. Because of this delay, suppliers 110must produce materials in advance to have inventory in stock by acertain date to meet actual manufacturing demand. However, as a resultof the unpredictable nature of manufacturing demand, forecastingmanufacturing demand at suppliers 110 is typically a difficult task andinaccuracies in the planner's forecast of manufacturing demand may causesuppliers 110 to incur substantial costs. Because manufacturing demandis derived from retailer demand, which is in turn derived from customerdemand, manufacturing demand may be even more unpredictable thanretailer or customer demand and, as a result, forecasting manufacturingdemand by a planner at suppliers 110 may even be more difficult than aplanner forecasting manufacturing demand at manufacturers 120 or aplanner forecasting retailer or customer demand. Like the planner withinmanufacturing 120, the planner within distributors 130 and the plannerwithin retailers 140, the planner within suppliers 110 may maintain asafety stock in inventory to reduce the likelihood that suppliers 110will be unable to meet manufacturing demand if actual manufacturingdemand exceeds forecasted manufacturing demand.

Referring now to FIG. 2 in the drawings, the preferred embodiment of aplanning system 200, according to the present invention is illustrated.Planning system 200 comprises one or more computers 202, at least oneplanner and/or automated input 204, and an output generated plan 206.Planning system 200 further comprises internet 210 coupled to planningsystem 200 via a communication link 208. Network connectivity betweenplanning system 200 and supply chain network 100 of FIG. 1, is providedvia communications link 208 through, for example, internet 210. Thoseskilled in the art will recognize that the complete structure andoperation of a computerized network and other components within planningsystem 200 are not depicted or described. The present invention may beemployed in conjunction with known communications networks and othercomponents, and only so much of those components as is unique to thepresent invention or necessary for an understanding of the presentinvention are depicted and described.

Planning system 200 may operate on one or more computers 202 at one ormore locations. Computer 202 may be any computer, including, but notlimited to, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a portable computers,a wireless communications device, a personal digital assistant device, atext-message transmission device, or the like. Computer 202 may includeany suitable input device, such as a keypad, mouse, touch screen,microphone, or other device to input information. Computer 202 mayfurther include an output device capable of conveying informationassociated with the operation of planning system 200, including digitalor analog data, visual information, or audio information. Computer 202may still further include fixed or removable storage media, such asmagnetic computer disks, CD-ROM, or other suitable media to receiveoutput form and provide input to planning system 200. Computer 202 mayyet further comprise a processor and volatile or non-volatile memory toexecute instructions and manipulate information according to planningsystem 200. Although on a single computer 202 is shown and described,planning system 200 may operate on separate computers 202, or mayoperate on one or more shared computers 202, without departing from theintended scope of the present invention.

Planner or automated input 204 may be provided for use in a planningsession of supply chain network 100. As an example and not by way oflimitation, planner or automated input 204 provided for use with supplychain network 100 may comprise a person handling supply or demandplanning or one or more related tasks within at least one supply chainentity. Planner or automated input 204 may be associated with suppliers110, manufacturers 120, distributors 130, retailers 140, and customers150, of FIG. 1, or with two or more of these supply chain entities beingcombined, according to particular needs. For example, suppliers 110 andmanufacturers 120 may be supply chain entities within a singleenterprise comprising a single planner or automated input 204. Inaddition distributors 130 and retailers 140 may be supply chain entitieswithin a single enterprise also comprising a single planner or automatedinput 204. Although supply chain network 100 is described as having eachof these supply chain entities comprising a planner or automated input204, the present invention also contemplates supply chain network 100excluding one or more of these planner's or automated inputs 204,according to particular needs. For example, supply chain network 100 mayexclude a planner or automated input 204 from distributors 130 and aplanner or automated input 204 forecasting for manufactures may forecastsupply directly for retailers 140 or a planner or automated input 204for retailers 140 may be excluded and a planner or automated input 204forecasting for distributors 130 may forecast supply directly forcustomers 150. In addition or as an alternative, planner or automatedinput 204 within supply chain network 100 may comprise a computer systemprogrammed to autonomously handle planning or one or more related taskswithin supply chain network 100.

Planner or automated input 204 of planning system 200 may generateoutput generated plans 206 based on inputs received from at least one ofsuppliers 110, manufactures 120, distributors 130, retailers 140, orcustomers 150 via at least one of supply and demand connections 111 a,111 d, 121 b, 131 b, 141 c, and may be used by other planner's orautomated input 204 within supply chain network 100 according toparticular needs. In general, a planning cycle initiated on planningsystem 200 may include a planning session and a period of timeseparating the planning session from a following planning session. Inaddition or as an alternative a plan problem initiated on planningsystem 200 may include a short planned order, an over utilized resource,a safety stock violation, or any other plan problem. Planning system 200may provide a planner or automated input 204 to access a planningsession via supply chain visualizer 300 or plan display 400, shown anddescribed below in FIGS. 3 and 4 respectively, or provide inputspecifying one or more goals. For example, maximization of throughput,minimization of costs or any other suitable goals, including causingplanning system 200 to generate an output generated plan 206, accordingto particular needs.

Referring now to FIG. 3 in the drawings, the preferred embodiment of asupply chain visualizer 300 illustrating in greater detail supply chainnetwork 100 of FIG. 1, according to the present invention isillustrated. Supply chain visualizer 300 comprises a graphical userinterface (GUI) of one or more tabs including one or more items andlocations views 302, one or more network views 304, and one or more itemflow views 306. Although supply chain visualizer 300 is shown anddescribed as having a plurality of tabs including a plurality of itemsand locations views 302, a plurality of network views 304, and aplurality of item flow views 306, the present invention contemplates anysuitable number or type of tabs for use in the GUI, according toparticular needs.

Supply chain visualizer 300 comprises one or more visualization viewsthat provide a visual representation of a supply chain illustrating ingreater detail supply chain network 100. For example, supply chainvisualizer 300 may comprise one or more assets that make up supply chainnetwork 100, one or more attributes of each asset, including one or morerelationships between the one or more assets and the one or moreattributes, and one or more constraints about the one or morerelationships. As another example, and not by way of limitation, supplychain visualizer 300 may comprise the ability to visualize networks andhierarchies mapped from the relational data of supply chain network 100.Supply chain visualizer 300 may further comprise the ability to create,extend or edit networks and hierarchies in the GUI of supply chainvisualizer 300. Thereby creating the ability to dynamically andincrementally navigate up-stream or down-stream supply chain network 100or the hierarchy therefrom, starting from any supply chain entity nodewithin supply chain network 100, according to particular needs.

Items and locations view 302 comprises a visual representation of items,locations and their associations. Items and locations view 302 providesa planner the ability to visualize, create, and edit relationshipsbetween items and locations. Items are assets representing material insupply chain network 100 and may include materials, raw materials,component parts, stock-keeping-units (SKU's), products, data, or anyother suitable items associated with supply chain network 100. Locationsare assets representing stock-keeping locations, sites, facilities, datastorage or plants in supply chain network 100. As an example and not byway of limitation, an item or SKU may be stocked at a location, havingan item-location connection which further exemplifies this relationshipas an inventory point at which an item may be stocked at the connectedlocations. The attributes of this inventory point may include suchthings as, for example, inventory carrying policies. Furthermore, eachconnection associated with items and locations view 302 represents anitem-location asset associated with network view 304. A planner mayselect any item in items and locations view 302, to view the attributesof that item. Furthermore, the planner may also select any location inthe items and locations view 302, to see the attributes of thatlocation.

Item flow view 306 comprises a visual representation of thetransformation path between items. Item flow view 306 provides a plannerthe ability to visualize an items transformation from one item toanother item as these items are transferred down-stream supply chainnetwork 100. A planner may select any item, within item flow view 306such as for example a raw material item, thereby allowing the planner toview the item from its raw material form into its transformed componentspart form and finally into its transformed assembled finished goods formwhich may be ultimately purchased by the customer at the furthestdown-stream point of supply chain network 100.

Network view 304 comprises a visual representation of supply chainnetwork 100 in terms of item-location assets and the connections betweenthese assets that represent movement or transformation of items. Networkview 304 provides a planner the ability to visualize, create and editrelationships between inventory carrying points of supply chain network100. In essence, network view 304 provides for supply chain diagramsshowing the material movement and transformation across supply chainnetwork 100. Network 304 further comprises supply chain entity nodes310-321 providing a visual representation of a supply chain illustratingin greater detail supply chain network 100.

As an example and not by way of limitation, the visual representation ofa supply chain network 100 in network view 304 includes Chips at Factorynode 310, representing the furthest node upstream in network view 304.Chips at Factory node 310 is connected via a supply and demand channelto Chips at Plant Warehouse node 311. The supply and demand channelconnection from Chips at Factory node 310 to Chips at Plant Warehousenode 311 may symbolize a Bill of Distribution connection for a transportoperation which may include attributes such as Item, Source Location,Destination Location, Transit Time Mean and Standard Deviation ofTransit Time. Chips at Plant Warehouse node 311 is connected via supplyand demand connections to down-stream nodes 312-317. The supply anddemand channel connections from Chips at Plant Warehouse node 311 tonodes 312-317 may symbolize a Bill of Distribution connection for thestocking locations for Chips further down-stream from Plant Warehousenode 310.

Sales Channel nodes 318-321 represent the furthest nodes down-stream innetwork view 304, thereby serving as “sink” nodes in supply chainnetwork 100. Sales Channel nodes 318-321 are represented by connectionswith demand streams consuming material from supply chain network 100. Incontrast, Chips at Factory node 310 serves as a “source” node in supplychain network 100, since it is the most up-stream node in network view304. Although network view 304 is shown and described as having aplurality of supply and demand connections including a plurality of Billof Distribution connections for a transport operation showing materialbeing moved from one location to another, the present inventioncontemplates any suitable type of connections such as a plurality ofBill of Material connections for a transport operation showing materialbeing transformed from one location to another, according to particularneeds.

As shown in network view 304, nodes 310-321 may be represented as iconshaving an appearance related to the various type of items and locationsat the respective node within supply chain network 100, the presentinvention contemplates any suitable shape or icon representing varioustypes of items and locations, according to particular needs. Moreover,modifications such as additions or omissions may be made to supply chainvisualizer 300 without departing from the scope of the invention. As anexample and not by way of limitation, items and locations view 302, itemflow view 306, or network view 304 may have more, fewer, or othershapes, icons, or graphical elements providing a visual representationof supply chain network 100. In addition or as an alternative, theoperation of supply chain visualizer 300 may be performed by more,fewer, or other types of visual representation arranged in any suitablemanner, according to particular needs.

As an example and not by way of limitation, the planner may select anitem-location asset from the assets list in network view 304, andfurther select “Append Neighbors” or “Append Network Paths” to exposeup-stream and down-stream connection paths in the supply chain network100. Although network 304 is shown and described as having plurality ofsupply chain entity nodes 310-321, the present invention contemplatesany suitable number of supply chain entity nodes, according toparticular needs. For example, suppliers 110 a, manufactures 120 b,distributors 130 a-130 c, retailers 140 a-140 d, and customers 150 a-150e may be supply chain entities nodes within network view 304 of supplychain visualizer 300.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, supply chainvisualizer 300 provides for stand-alone visualization capability. Thestand-alone visualization capability provides the planner the ability tovisualize any item-location from any specific point in supply chainnetwork 100. The planner may, on demand, pin-point a specific item orlocation and navigate up-stream or down-stream to receive the associatedparameters of the specific item-location assets and the connectionsbetween these assets. In alternative embodiment of the presentinvention, supply chain visualizer 300 provides for anchored navigationcapability. The anchored navigation capability provides the planner withthe ability to anchor to one or more item-location assets and determinethe other nodes or entities also creating demand or being supplied bythe one or more item-location assets. In this manner, the planner isable to ascertain supply and demand planning as related to theparticular item-location. As an example and not by way of limitation,the planner may be only one of many other consumers in supply chainnetwork 100 creating the demand for a particular item. The planner isthen capable of determining a more intuitive understanding of the actualsupply and demand associated with the item within supply chain network100. This provides the planner a useful mechanism in understanding thelikelihood of whether the distributors may or may not be able to supplya particular item in a particular timeframe.

The anchored navigation capability provides the planner with the abilityto traverse from any supply chain entity node in supply chain network100 and zoom into or zoom out of each supply entity node to visualizeany and all consumers or producers of the item to thereby gain ahigher-level appreciation of the item location interaction associatedwith supply chain network 100. In addition or as an alternative theanchored navigation capability is capable of providing a contextsensitive traversing capability between the visual representation ofmulti-dimensional supply chain visualizer 300 and the visualrepresentation of multi-dimensional plan display 400 of FIG. 4.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, supply chainvisualizer 300 provides for a hyperlinked supply chain network viewwherein a planner can view supply chain network 100 in a high-levelvisual representation of the supply chain network view. In addition oras an alternative, the planner may drill down into each supply chainentity node within supply chain visualizer 300 to investigate or analyzea particular plan problem within supply chain network 100, including butnot limited to, on one or more assets, one or more attributes of eachasset, one or more relationship between the one or more assets and theone or more attributes, and one or more constraints about the one ormore relationships about each of the plurality of supply chain entitynodes. In essence, the planner can zoom into or zoom out-of each supplychain entity node within supply chain visualizer 300 and morespecifically, network view 304.

In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, supply chainvisualizer 300 provides a mouse-over function comprising a pop-upinformation display associated with each of the plurality of supplychain entity nodes. A planner may browse the supply chain network 100with a computer mouse pointer using predetermined primary attributes forthe pop-up information display. For example, a planner may select thepredetermined primary attributes comprising the average time betweennodes, the standard deviation between nodes, or any other attributeassociated with supply chain network 100. The mouse-over functionprovides a planner the capability of quickly browsing the predeterminedprimary attributes of supply chain network 100, via the pop-upinformation display. Moreover, the mouse over function further providesa planner with the capability of drilling down into the plurality ofsupply chain entity nodes for a more detailed analysis of anypredetermined secondary attributes.

As mentioned above in association with items and locations view 302, anitem-location connection represents the association of an item that canbe stocked at the connected locations, thereby creating a stock keepingrelationship between the item and location. The stock keepingrelationship provides the capability of navigating to its correspondingsupply chain network diagram, which may be dynamically linked via itsnetwork dependencies. As an example and not by way of limitation, thestock keeping relationship provides for the navigation between at leastone stock keeping location and a first demand supply chain node, asecond demand supply chain node, and continuing down-stream until thefinal customer supply chain node.

In another alternate embodiment of the present invention, a planner mayselect any arbitrary supply chain node in supply chain visualizer 300.In so doing, the planner may focus on the supply chain nodespredetermined primary attributes, predetermined secondary attributes,its network items, including all of its neighbors within the entiresupply chain network 100 including up-stream and down-stream. Therebyproviding the ability for the planner to traverse the entire supplychain network by going from any supply chain node within supply chainvisualizer 300 to any other supply chain node within supply chainvisualizer 300 during a planning session.

Referring now to FIG. 4 in the drawings, the preferred embodiment of aplan display 400 according to the present invention is illustrated. Plandisplay 400 comprises a graphical user interface (GUI) of one or moregraphical elements including one or more filter listings 430, one ormore item location listings 440 and one or more data measure listings450. As fully described below in FIG. 5, a planner may traverse themulti-dimensional supply chain network 100 via a real-time interactionbetween plan display 400 and supply chain visualizer 300. Although plandisplay 400 is shown and described as having one or more graphicalelements including a visual representation of a plurality of filterlistings 430, a plurality of item location listings 440, and a pluralityof data measure listings 450, the present invention contemplates anysuitable number of graphical elements, according to particular needs.Plan display 400 may comprise a visual representation of one or moregraphical elements in a tabular view, wherein each tabular viewcomprises a table including one or more rows and one or more columns. Inaddition or as an alternative, an intersection of any particular rowwith an associated connecting column may define a cell.

Filter listing 430 comprises a visual representation of variousentities. As an example and not by way of limitation, filter listing 430may comprise: Planner Code (PRESP), Criticality Group (CG), Item Type(Type), Percent change between last approved target and new targetexpressed in color codes (ChgPrcnt), Item backlog percent changeexpressed in color codes (ItmeBLPcnt), Item Location Backlog percentchange expressed in color codes (ILBLPcnt), Item Excess percent changeexpressed in color codes (ItemExPcnt), Item Location Excess percentchange expressed in color codes (ILExPcnt), and Upper Control Limit orLower Control Limit control range to illustrate if the new target iswithin a specified range (ControlRng). Filter listing 430 furthercomprises one or more drop down filters, providing a planner with thecapability to only focus on specific listings, in essence, these dynamicfilters allow the planner the ability to decide what to filter on. As anexample, and not by way of limitation, the planner may choose to filteronly one type of location, or even filter using color coding to expressthe percentage change, according to particular needs.

Item location listing 440 comprises a visual representation of variousentities. As an example and not by way of limitation, item locationslisting 440 may comprise: Item, Location Type (LocType), and Location.Data measure listing 450 comprises a visual representation of at leastthe following data measures: an editable data measure of the AcceptedTarget (AcceptedTarget), an editable data measure of the Status of thespecific inventory target (Status), a Last Approved Target value that isthe previously approved target (LastApprovedTarget), a New Target valuethat is the inventory target from the current planning session(NewTarget), a Quantity Change expressed byNewTarget−LastApprovedTarget(QtyChange), an absolute percentage difference expressed by(NewTarget−LastApprovedTarget)/LastApprovedTarget*100(PrctChg), a Item Location Backlog expressed by(NewTarget/ILBacklog)*100where ILBacklog is the total backlog of an item at the specific location(ItemLocBacklog), a Item Backlog expressed by(NewTarget/Item Backlog)*100where ItemBacklog is the total backlog of an item across all location asand is computed by plan display 400 using the ILBacklog numbers(ItemBacklog), a Item Location Excess expressed by(ILExcess/ILBacklog)*100where ILExcess is the supply quantity that exceeds demand for an item ata location (ItemLocExcess), a Item Excess expressed by(ItemExcess/ItemBacklog)*100where ItemExcess is the ILExcess numbers summed across all locations fora particular item (ItemExcess), and a Projected Cost expressed by(AcceptedTarget*Unit Cost)(ProjectedCost). The data measure of Status may further comprise thefollowing numerical values: 0=Reject, 1=Approve, 2=Not Reviewed, 3=AutoRejected, and 4=Auto Approved.

Modifications, additions or omissions may be made to plan display 400without departing from the scope of the invention. As an example and notby way of limitation, plan display 400 may have more, fewer, or othergraphical elements, entities or data measures. Moreover, the operationof plan display 400 may be performed by more, fewer, or other graphicalelements, entities, or data measures arranged in any suitable manner,according to particular needs.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a planner maygenerate plan display 400 during a planning session. In addition or asan alternative, the planner is capable of understanding the supply chainnetwork plan, by looking at totals, looking at changes, sorting,ordering, and other planning functions. As an example and not by way oflimitation, a planner investigating or conducting analysis on a planproblem using plan display 400 is capable of dynamically understandingthe supply chain network plan by looking at, for example, the manner inwhich items are allocated according to a specific budget, or therelational dependencies for each supply chain entity, item or location.In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, plan display 400may further provide the planner with the capability of viewing theplanning session, for example, across departments, across people, oracross revenue generating products. In addition or as an alternative,this capability provides the planner with multiple views of the supplychain network plan allowing the planner to optimize and analyze thevariations of the plan prior to implementing the planning session.

To further explain the operation of plan display 400 and its associatedmulti-directional elements, an example is now given. In the followingexample, a planner may select any cell and change the value. Plandisplay 400 will proportionately distribute the changed value across allmembers of supply chain network 100. In this manner, the plannerconducting the planning session may have utilized a computerizedoptimization to provide recommendations as to how to distribute based onsupply chain constraints or how the data should be allocated betweenindividual members. However, the interactive capability of the visualrepresentation of this tabular view provides for the injections of theplanner's subjectivity in a very intuitive and systematic way withoutloosing the recommendations from the computerized optimizer. It isimportant to understand that a planner's subjectivity may be provided bythe planner in order for the planning session to be more realistic.

As another example, the planner may select any target and inflate ordeflate it by a percentage, an offset, or any other variable, accordingto particular needs. In this manner, plan display 400 provides arelational representation that allows the planner to dynamically drillup or drill down any supply chain entity node or computed resulttherefrom; coupled with the ability to subjectively change theinformation at a group level or individual level through proportional orincrement/decrement features.

As yet another example, data measure listing 450 provides a planner witha visual representation of color coding based on a predeterminedpercentage of variation. For example, a color coding of green mayprovide for a small variation, a color coding of orange may provide fora medium variation, a color coding of red may provide for a bigvariation, and a color coding of pink may provide for the largestvariation. The visual representation of the color coding provides avisual way for a planner to identify where to focus; in essence, itprovides the planner with the ability to focus on one tree out of aforest of supply chain entity nodes. Although data measure listing 450is shown and described as providing a visual representation of colorcoding having a plurality color codes associated with a percentagevariation, the present invention contemplates any suitable visualrepresentation of coding a cell located in the percentage change columnbased on predetermined percentage of change according to particularneeds.

Referring now to FIG. 5 in the drawings, the preferred embodiment of ahigh level flowchart 500 of the present invention is illustrated.Flowchart 500 starts at step 502 with a planner initiating a planningsession. It is recalled from the above description of FIG. 1 that, aplanning cycle may include a planning session and a period of timeseparating the planning session from a following planning session. Aplan problem may include a short planned order, an over utilizedresource, a safety stock violation, or any other plan problem.

The planning session continues with inquiry step 504, in which adetermination is made as to whether the planner chooses to investigateor conduct analysis on the plan problem via supply chain visualizer 300or plan display 400. If the planner chooses to investigate the planproblem via supply chain visualizer 300, the process continues with step506. On the other hand, if the planner chooses to investigate the planproblem via plan display 400, the process continues with step 514. As anexample and not by way of limitation, the planner may investigate orconduct analysis on the planning session or plan problem by providinginput specifying one or more goals, for example, maximization ofthroughput, minimization of costs or any other suitable goals, includingcausing the planning session to generate a plan according to particularneeds.

Next as represented by step 506, supply chain visualizer 300 providesthe planner a visual representation of a graphical view of supply chainnetwork 100. The process continues with step 508, in which the plannerselects a supply chain entity node to focus on one or more asset thatmake up supply chain network 100, one or more attributes of each asset,including one or more relationships between the one or more assets andthe one or more attributes, or one or more constraints about the one ormore relationships. As discussed above in FIG. 3, supply chainvisualizer 300 provides the planner with the ability to visualize supplychain networks and hierarchies mapped from the relational data of supplychain network 100. The planner is capable of creating, extending orediting supply chain networks and hierarchies in the GUI of supply chainvisualizer 300, thereby providing the ability to dynamically andincrementally navigate up-stream and down-stream supply chain network100 or the hierarchy therefrom; starting from any supply chain entitynode within supply chain network 100.

Next as represented by inquiry step 510, the planner is capable ofselecting any supply chain entity node, any of its assets, itsattributes, its constraints, or any of its relationships and is furthercapable to traversing to a visual representation of plan display 400. Ifthe planner traverses to a visual representation of plan display 400,the process continues at step 514. On the other hand, If the plannerdoes not traverse to a visual representation of plan display 400, theprocess continues at inquiry step 512. In this manner, supply chainvisualizer 300 provides for a real-time interaction between the visualrepresentation of the graphical view of supply chain visualizer 300 andthe visual representation of the tabular view of plan display 400.

Next as represented by step 514, plan display 400 provides the planner avisual representation of a tabular view of supply chain network 100. Theprocess continues with step 516, in which the planner selects any cellfrom filter listing 430, item location listing 440, or data measurelisting 450. The planner is capable of highlighting the cell of interestand is further capable to traversing to a visual representation ofsupply chain visualizer 300, as represented by inquiry step 518. If theplanner traverses to a visual representation of supply chain visualizer300, the process continues at step 506. On the other hand, if theplanner does not traverse to a visual representation of supply chainvisualizer 300, the process continues at inquiry step 520. In thismanner, plan display 400 provides for a real-time interaction betweenthe visual representation of the tabular view of plan display 400 andthe visual representation of the graphical view of supply chainvisualizer 300. As discussed above in FIG. 4, the planner may haveobserved a color coded cell in data measure listing 450 or utilized thefiltering function of filter listing 430 to select an item location cellfor investigation or analysis.

The process continues with inquiry steps 512 and 520, in which adetermination is made as to whether the planner wishes to generate aplan or continue the investigation or plan analysis of the planningsession. If the planner is in step 512 and does not wish to generate aplan, the process continues at step 506. If the planner is in step 520and does not wish to generate a plan, the process continues at step 514.In this manner, the planner is allowed to repeatedly navigate throughsupply chain visualizer 300 and plan display 400 until such time as theplanner is able to understand the supply chain network and understandthe multi-dimensional relationships of the plan. As an example and notby way of limitation, the planner is capable of building a planningsession from the purely tabular view of plan display 400, the purelygraphical view of supply chain visualizer 300 or the combination of thetabular and graphical views. Thereby providing the planner all of theadvantages of understanding of supply chain network 100 from the tabularview of plan display 400 coupled with the advantages of solving thenetwork visualization problem and constraints from the graphical viewsof supply chain visualizer 300. Next the process ends at step 522, inwhich the planner may cause the planning session to generate a planaccording to the above investigation or analysis.

It is apparent that an invention with significant advantages has beendescribed and illustrated. Although the present invention is shown in alimited number of forms, it is not limited to just these forms, but isamenable to various changes and modifications without departing from thespirit thereof.

1. A computer-implemented system for providing supply chain networkvisualization and plan review, the computer-implemented systemcomprising: a supply chain visualizer capable of providing a visualrepresentation of one or more graphical elements in a multi-dimensionalsupply chain network; a plan display capable of providing a visualrepresentation of one or more graphical elements in a multi-dimensionaltabular view; and a multi-directional capability for providing a contextsensitive traversing between the supply chain visualizer and the plandisplay.
 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more of:assets in the multi-dimensional supply chain network; assets in themulti-dimensional tabular view; attributes of each of the one or moreassets, including one or more relationship between the one or moreassets and the one or more attributes; and constraints associated withthe one or more relationships.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein thesupply chain visualizer comprises views selected from the groupconsisting of: items and locations view; network view; and item flowview.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the supply chain visualizerfurther comprises: the ability to visualize networks and hierarchiesmapped from the relational data of the multi-dimensional supply chainnetwork; the ability to create, extend or edit networks and hierarchiesin the GUI of the supply chain visualizer; and creating the ability todynamically and incrementally navigate up or down the multi-dimensionalsupply chain network or the hierarchy therefrom, starting from at leastone supply chain entity node within the multi-dimensional supply chainnetwork.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the plan display comprisesviews selected from the group consisting of: filter listings view; itemlocation listings view; and data measure listings view.
 6. The system ofclaim 5, wherein the plan display further comprises: a visualrepresentation of items, locations and their respective associations,providing the planner the ability to visualize, create, and editrelationships between items and locations; provide the planner theability to select at least one item to view the attributes of the item;and provide the planner the ability to select at least one location toview the attributes of the location.
 7. The system of claim 6, whereinthe filter listings view comprises one or more filters from the groupconsisting of a planner code, a criticality group, a item type, apercent change between a last approved target and a new target expressedin color codes, an item backlog percent change expressed in color codes,an item location backlog percent change expressed in color codes, anitem excess percent change expressed in color codes, an item locationexcess percent change expressed in color codes, and an upper controllimit or lower control limit control range illustrating if the newtarget is within a specified range.
 8. The system of claim 6, whereinthe data measure listing comprises data measures selected from the groupconsisting of: an editable data measure of the accepted target; aneditable data measure of the status of the specific inventory target; alast approved target value that is the previously approved target; a newtarget value that is the inventory target from the current planningsession; a quantity change; an absolute percentage difference; a itemlocation backlog; a item backlog; a item location excess; a item excess;and a projected cost.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the status datameasure comprises data measures selected from the group consisting ofreject, approve, not reviewed, auto rejected, and auto approved.
 10. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the multi-directional capability is operableto: receive input from a planner during a planning session specifying aplan problem; substantially immediately reflect changes to dataassociated with the plan display back to data associated with thecorresponding supply chain visualizer; substantially immediately reflectchanges to data associated with the supply chain visualizer back to dataassociated with the corresponding plan display; traverse themulti-dimensional supply chain network via a real-time interactionbetween the visual representation of the multi-dimensional tabular viewof the plan display and the visual representation of the graphical viewof the supply chain visualizer; and provide the ability to generate aplan.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the multi-directionalcapability further comprises: a stand-alone visualization capabilityproviding the planner the ability to visualize at least oneitem-location from at least one specific point in the multi-dimensionalsupply chain network, operable to: provide the planner the capability ofon-demand pin-pointing of a specific item or location to furthernavigate up-stream or down-stream of the multi-dimensional supply chainnetwork; and receive associated parameters of at least one specificitem-location assets including connections between the assets.
 12. Thesystem of claim 10, wherein the multi-directional capability furthercomprises: an anchored navigation capability providing the planner withthe ability to anchor to one or more of the item-location assets,operable to: determine other supply chain nodes or supply chain entitiesalso creating demand or being supplied by the one or more item-locationasset; ascertain supply and demand planning as related to the one ormore item-location asset; and provide a context sensitive traversingcapability between the supply chain visualizer and the plan display. 13.The system of claim 10, wherein the multi-directional capability furthercomprises: a mouse-over function providing the planner with a pop-upinformation display associated with each of the plurality of supplychain entity nodes, the mouse-over function operable to: provide abrowsing function of the multi-dimensional supply chain network using atleast one predetermined primary attribute for the pop-up informationdisplay; provide the planner the capability of substantially immediatelybrowsing the predetermined primary attributes of the multi-dimensionalsupply chain network, via the pop-up information display; and providethe planner with the capability of drilling down into the plurality ofsupply chain entity nodes for a more detailed analysis of at least onepredetermined secondary attribute.
 14. A computer-implemented method forproviding supply chain network visualization and plan review, the methodperformed using one or more computer systems each comprising one or moreprocessing units and one or more memory units at one or more locations,the method comprising the steps of: providing a supply chain visualizercapable of visual representation of one or more graphical elements in amulti-dimensional supply chain network; providing a plan display capableof visual representation of one or more graphical elements in amulti-dimensional tabular view; and providing a multi-directionalcapability for a context sensitive traversing between the supply chainvisualizer and the plan display.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein thesupply chain visualizer further comprises the steps of: visualizingnetworks and hierarchies mapped from the relational data of themulti-dimensional supply chain network; creating, extending or editingnetworks and hierarchies in the GUI of the supply chain visualizer; andcreating the ability to dynamically and incrementally navigate up ordown the multi-dimensional supply chain network or the hierarchytherefrom, starting from at least one supply chain entity node withinthe multi-dimensional supply chain network.
 16. The method of claim 14,wherein the plan display further comprises the steps of: providing aplanner, in a visual representation of items, locations and theirrespective associations, the ability to visualize, create, and editrelationships between items and locations; providing the planner theability to select at least one item to view the attributes of the item;and providing the planner the ability to select at least one location toview the attributes of the location.
 17. The method of claim 14, whereinthe multi-directional capability further comprises the steps of:receiving input from a planner during a planning session specifying aplan problem; reflecting changes to data associated with the plandisplay back to data associated with the corresponding supply chainvisualizer; reflecting changes to data associated with the supply chainvisualizer back to data associated with the corresponding plan display;traversing the multi-dimensional supply chain network via a real-timeinteraction between the visual representation of the multi-dimensionaltabular view of the plan display and the visual representation of thegraphical view of the supply chain visualizer; and providing the abilityto generate a plan.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein themulti-directional capability further comprises the steps of: providingthe planner a stand-alone visualization capability to visualize at leastone item-location from at least one specific point in themulti-dimensional supply chain network, further comprising the steps of:providing the planner the capability of on-demand pin-pointing of aspecific item or location to further navigate up-stream or down-streamof the multi-dimensional supply chain network; and receiving associatedparameters of at least one specific item-location assets includingconnections between the assets.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein themulti-directional capability further comprises the steps of: providingthe planner a anchored navigation capability to anchor to one or more ofthe item-location assets, further comprising the steps of: determiningother supply chain nodes or supply chain entities also creating demandor being supplied by the one or more item-location asset; ascertainingsupply and demand planning as related to the one or more item-locationasset; and providing a context sensitive traversing capability betweenthe supply chain visualizer and the plan display.
 20. The method ofclaim 17, wherein the multi-directional capability further comprises thesteps of: providing the planner a mouse-over function with a pop-upinformation display associated with each of the plurality of supplychain entity nodes, further comprising the steps of: providing abrowsing function of the multi-dimensional supply chain network using atleast one predetermined primary attribute for the pop-up informationdisplay; providing the planner the capability of substantiallyimmediately browsing the predetermined primary attributes of themulti-dimensional supply chain network, via the pop-up informationdisplay; and provide the planner with the capability of drilling downinto the plurality of supply chain entity nodes for a more detailedanalysis of at least one predetermined secondary attribute.
 21. Acomputer-readable medium having encoded thereon software for providingsupply chain network visualization and plan review, thecomputer-readable medium comprising instructions for: providing a supplychain visualizer capable of visual representation of one or moregraphical elements in a multi-dimensional supply chain network;providing a plan display capable of visual representation of one or moregraphical elements in a multi-dimensional tabular view; and providing amulti-directional capability for a context sensitive traversing betweenthe supply chain visualizer and the plan display.
 22. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the supply chainvisualizer further comprises instructions for: visualizing networks andhierarchies mapped from the relational data of the multi-dimensionalsupply chain network; creating, extending or editing networks andhierarchies in the GUI of the supply chain visualizer; and creating theability to dynamically and incrementally navigate up or down themulti-dimensional supply chain network or the hierarchy therefrom,starting from at least one supply chain entity node within themulti-dimensional supply chain network.
 23. The computer-readable mediumof claim 21, wherein the plan display further comprises instructionsfor: providing a planner, in a visual representation of items, locationsand their respective associations, the ability to visualize, create, andedit relationships between items and locations; providing the plannerthe ability to select at least one item to view the attributes of theitem; and providing the planner the ability to select at least onelocation to view the attributes of the location.
 24. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the multi-directionalcapability further comprises instructions for: receiving input from aplanner during a planning session specifying a plan problem; reflectingchanges to data associated with the plan display back to data associatedwith the corresponding supply chain visualizer; reflecting changes todata associated with the supply chain visualizer back to data associatedwith the corresponding plan display; traversing the multi-dimensionalsupply chain network via a real-time interaction between the visualrepresentation of the multi-dimensional tabular view of the plan displayand the visual representation of the graphical view of the supply chainvisualizer; and providing the ability to generate a plan.
 25. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the multi-directionalcapability further comprises instructions for: providing the planner astand-alone visualization capability to visualize at least oneitem-location from at least one specific point in the multi-dimensionalsupply chain network, further comprising instructions for: providing theplanner the capability of on-demand pin-pointing of a specific item orlocation to further navigate up-stream or down-stream of themulti-dimensional supply chain network; and receiving associatedparameters of at least one specific item-location assets includingconnections between the assets.
 26. The computer-readable medium ofclaim 24, wherein the multi-directional capability further comprisesinstructions for: providing the planner a anchored navigation capabilityto anchor to one or more of the item-location assets, further comprisinginstructions for: determining other supply chain nodes or supply chainentities also creating demand or being supplied by the one or moreitem-location asset; ascertaining supply and demand planning as relatedto the one or more item-location asset; and providing a contextsensitive traversing capability between the supply chain visualizer andthe plan display.
 27. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, whereinthe multi-directional capability further comprises instructions for:providing the planner a mouse-over function with a pop-up informationdisplay associated with each of the plurality of supply chain entitynodes, further comprising instructions for: providing a browsingfunction of the multi-dimensional supply chain network using at leastone predetermined primary attribute for the pop-up information display;providing the planner the capability of substantially immediatelybrowsing the predetermined primary attributes of the multi-dimensionalsupply chain network, via the pop-up information display; and providethe planner with the capability of drilling down into the plurality ofsupply chain entity nodes for a more detailed analysis of at least onepredetermined secondary attribute.